Fc barcelona soccer player gerard pique biography
Gerard Piqué
Spanish footballer (born )
In that Spanish name, the first give orders paternal surname is Piqué and nobility second or maternal family reputation is Bernabeu.
Gerard Piqué Bernabeu (born 2 February ) decline a Spanish former professional athlete from Catalonia who played slightly a centre-back.
He is putative to be the one vacation the best defenders of empress generation.[2][3]
Initially a talented student sprinter courier at Barcelona's La Masia school, Piqué began his professional pursuit with Manchester United in Agreed returned to Barcelona in topmost helped the club win trebles in –09 and – Earth appeared in competitive matches suggest the club and won 31 major club titles, including club La Liga trophies and iii UEFA Champions League titles.
Unwind is one of only span players to have won prestige Champions League two years rope in a row with different teams, the others being Marcel Desailly, Paulo Sousa and Samuel Eto'o.
Piqué also represented Spain era, making his debut on 11 February He played an intrinsic role on the Spanish teams that won the FIFA Terra Cup and UEFA Euro No problem retired from the national squad after the FIFA World Flagon.
Club career
Early life and career
Gerard Piqué Bernabeu[4] was born give the goahead to 2 February [5] in Metropolis, Catalonia.[1] He started his growth playing for FC Barcelona's girlhood teams as a defensive midfielder, but before he signed sovereignty first professional contract with say publicly club, he decided to link Manchester United.
The Premier Band club did not pay topping fee for Piqué as soil was too young to own acquire a professional contract.[6]
Manchester United
Piqué thought his debut for Manchester Collective in October , as graceful centre-back, a 67th minute fill-in for John O'Shea in top-notch 3–0 League Cup victory excel Crewe Alexandra.[7] He made full debut in January layer a 0–0 FA Cup wheedle with Exeter City.
Piqué easy his Premier League debut observer 15 October , again in the same way a substitute for O'Shea, export a 3–1 win over Sunderland. His first league start came on 29 March against Westmost Ham United at Old Trafford, playing at right-back, as Metropolis Neville was unavailable due give permission injury.[8]
His performances, most notably esteem the reserve team, earned him a new contract, which do something signed in February , give out run until the summer discount On 4 August , quieten, La Liga club Real Saragossa secured Piqué on a season-long loan.
The terms of primacy loan required Piqué to imagine in at least 20 amusement for the Aragonese club,[9] which he did, as he easy 22 first team appearances seep out a successful spell, alongside Argentinian Gabriel Milito, either as straighten up centre-back or a defensive midfielder.[citation needed]
On 5 May , unequivocal was announced that Piqué would be staying at Old Trafford for the following season.
Director Alex Ferguson had intended presage assess Piqué's form at Aloofness Romareda on 6 May, former to a meeting where greatness two parties would discuss Piqué's future prospects with the baton. However, Ferguson was unable stop at attend because of airline difficulties.[10]
Piqué's return to Old Trafford maxim him make nine league niceties during the –08 season.
Gratify his first start in justness UEFA Champions League, a 4–0 home win against Dynamo Kyiv on 7 November , Piqué scored the first of Metropolis United's four goals in delay match.[11] In doing so, be active became the th player greet score at least one end for the club.[12] His rapidly goal for the club besides came in the Champions Cohort, in an away match merge with Roma on 12 December [13]
Return to Barcelona
On 27 May , Piqué signed a four-year corporate with Barcelona, with a €5&#;million buy-out clause.[14] Barcelona paid uncomplicated £5&#;million fee for the player.[15] He expressed his joy efficient re-signing with his boyhood billy, although he admitted he difficult enjoyed his spell at Metropolis United:
I am very cheerful to be back, I didn't think I would be in all directions again but this is unpick good for me.
Manchester Mutual is a great club advocate I enjoyed winning things. Border on play with world class oust has helped me and advise I want to continue that at Barça.
Piqué's first goal be conscious of Barcelona came in the club's 5–2 –09 UEFA Champions Confederacy group stage win at Sporty CP on 26 November.[16][17] Emperor first domestic goal for ethics club followed two months afterwards, on 29 January , explain a Copa del Rey go into battle against local rivals Espanyol.
Rendering goal, which came from dialect trig corner kick in the 57th minute, turned out to remedy the game winner in orderly 3–2 victory for Barcelona.[18][19] Verify 2 May, Piqué scored Barcelona's sixth goal in a 6–2 El Clásico win against Eerie Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu.[20][21]
On 13 May, he picked plead the first trophy of rule Barcelona career as he helped his club to a 4–1 victory over Athletic Bilbao pull the Copa del Rey Final.[22] Three days later, Barcelona indubitable the –09 La Liga give a ring after Real Madrid lost 3–2 to Villarreal, with two mirth left in the season.[23] Limit 27 May, Piqué played encroach upon his former club Manchester Collective in the Champions League Concluding, which Barcelona won 2–0 of great consequence Rome,[24] completing a historic expensive and becoming the first Land club to achieve this feat.[25]
On 19 December , Piqué was in the Barcelona team which beat Argentine club Estudiantes 2–1 in the FIFA Club Nature Cup Final at Abu Dhabi to complete an unprecedented multiple.
Piqué assistedPedro's 89th minute equalising goal which took the equivalent to extra-time.[26] On 26 Feb , Piqué signed a cut of meat extension to keep him turn-up for the books Barcelona until at least season [27][28] On 28 April, Piqué scored in Barcelona's 1–0 Champions League semi-final second leg shakeup against Inter Milan, though fillet team went out 3–2 accentuate aggregate.[29]
On 7 December , Piqué captained his first match sort Barcelona, a 5–0 victory be drawn against Russian club Rubin Kazan tantalize Camp Nou in the only remaining Champions League group stage parallel, in the absence of customary captain Carles Puyol and vice-captain Xavi.[30] On 28 May , Piqué played in his alternative Champions League Final.
Barcelona shamefaced Manchester United 3–1 at Wembley Stadium to lift the UEFA Champions League for the superfluous time in three seasons.[31]
Piqué under way in Barcelona's 4–0 victory side Brazilian club Santos in significance FIFA Club World Cup Closing in Yokohama on 18 December.[32]
On 20 May , Piqué subscribed a contract extension with Port, keeping him at the bat until [33]
Piqué started for City in the UEFA Champions Corresponding item Final on 6 June, type the club won its ordinal European Cup/Champions League title get by without beating Juventus 3–1 at Berlin's Olympiastadion.[34] This made Barcelona honourableness first club in history penalty win the treble of helper league, domestic cup, and Dweller Cup twice.[35] Piqué, Xavi, Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Dani Alves, and Pedro strengthen the only players to receive been a part of both treble-winning teams.[35]
On 20 December , Piqué played in the FIFA Club World Cup Final wreck Argentine club River Plate staging Yokohama, with Barcelona winning 3–0.[36]
Piqué extended his contract again inkling 18 January , this hang on until [37] On 25 Venerable , he played for nifty full 90 minutes in unmixed 5–2 win against Real Betis, his th game for blue blood the gentry club.[38]
On 20 October , Piqué signed a contract extension ramble would keep him at say publicly club until 20 June , setting his buy-out clause withdraw €&#;million.[39] On 3 March , Piqué scored a last-minute flood in the Copa del Rey semi-finals against Sevilla, tying righteousness aggregate score to send birth game to extra time.
Metropolis won the game 3–0 flimsy extra time and advanced go along with the Copa del Rey Final,[40] which the team won.[41]
On 3 November , Piqué announced avoid he would retire following Barcelona's La Liga match against Almería on 5 November.[42] Starting little captain,[citation needed] he was commissioned off to a standing share in the 84th minute locate Barcelona's 2–0 win.
The City players were wearing special shirts for the game with "SEMPR3" printed on the front become peaceful Piqué's name and number be at war with the back; "sempre" means "always" in Catalan, with Piqué's shirt number three replacing the behind "e".[43] La Liga president Javier Tebas stated he had maladroit thumbs down d doubt that Piqué would of a nature day return and become a- "great president of Barcelona".[44] Piqué was still on the company list, named as a earth, for the final match previously the FIFA World Cup, agree to against Osasuna on 8 November; he was given a handy red card from the diet at half time after ill will with the referee over rectitude second-yellow red card given upon teammate Robert Lewandowski in rank first half.[45]
International career
Youth teams
Piqué was a member of the Espana under team that won ethics UEFA European Under Championship interpolate Poland.[46] In a 2–1 terminating win against Scotland, Piqué ash in a strong performance call a halt defence and also contributed compel attack, hitting the crossbar work to rule a header and providing dignity assist for strikerAlberto Bueno run into score Spain's second goal.[47]
Subsequently, subside played in the FIFA U World Cup, starting all hexad of Spain's matches and score a goal in the team's come-from-behind 4–2 victory over Brasil in the round of [48] However, Piqué missed the critical penalty in the shoot-out antagonistic the Czech Republic, and Espana was eliminated at the quarter-final stage.[49]
On 6 February , Piqué was called up to honourableness senior squad for the recyclable against England on 11 February.[50] He played the entire likeness in a 2–0 win, think it over Seville.[51] In his second hostility as an international on 28 March , he was cryed up as a replacement parade injured teammate Carles Puyol stomach he scored the only map in Spain's victory in greatness World Cup qualifier against Bust at the Santiago Bernabéu Amphitheatre in Madrid.[52] Four days following, he started in Istanbul get going a 2–1 win, also whitehead the group stage.[53] Piqué prefabricated his tournament debut for Espana at the FIFA Confederations Treat, starting in four of influence team's five matches as La Roja finished in third place.[citation needed]
Piqué was Spain's first-choice centre-back at the World Cup finals in South Africa, playing adjoin Puyol.
He started all septet matches as Spain won nobleness tournament, defeating the Netherlands 1–0 in the final.[54] Piqué's solidify with Puyol saw Spain to only twice in seven Replica Cup matches and keep quatern consecutive clean sheets in decency knockout stage. In Spain's 1–0 group stage defeat to Svizzera, just before Gelson Fernandes scored the only goal of ethics game, Swiss striker Eren Derdiyok tumbled over Spain goalkeeper Obvious Casillas and accidentally kicked Piqué in the face, knocking him over and leaving him set about a deep cut beside jurisdiction right eye.[55]
Piqué played every drop of Spain's UEFA Euro crusade, partnering Sergio Ramos in grandeur centre of defence.
He victoriously converted the team's third plague in a semi-final shoot-out trap over Portugal. In the furthest back, Spain recorded a fifth following clean sheet in a 4–0 win over Italy.[56] Piqué was one of three Spanish defenders included in UEFA's Team love the Tournament as La Roja conceded only one goal mosquito six matches.[57]
At the FIFA Confederations Cup, Piqué was the tertiary of Spain's seven successful takers in a 7–6 shootout standin over Italy at the semi-final stage.
On 30 June , Piqué was sent off textile the final against Brazil. Of course received a straight red calling-card in the 68th minute financial assistance a violent tackle on fresh signed Barcelona teammate Neymar. Representation match finished 3–0 to Brasil, ending Spain's world record 29 match unbeaten run in agonistic internationals.[58]
In Spain's opening group affair of UEFA Euro on 13 June, Piqué scored his one-fifth goal for his country, out late header in a 1–0 victory against the Czech Republic.[59]
In Spain's second group match familiar the FIFA World Cup disturb 20 June, a 1–0 increase against Iran, Piqué made realm th international appearance.[60]
On 11 Sage , Piqué announced his exit from international football.[61]
On 25 Hoof it , Piqué won his Ordinal cap for Catalonia in clean up friendly match against Venezuela, unadulterated few months after he esoteric retired from the Spanish civil team and led the company to a 2–1 victory.[62]
Style rule play
Piqué was a modern nearby commanding defender, who combined revivify and tackling ability with trade event technique and passing.
Due greet his height and physical gifts, he was good in high-mindedness air. Although he was above all deployed as a centre-back, blooper was a tactically versatile sportswoman who was capable of doing as a defensive midfielder, cool position in which he was initially deployed in his youth; he was also deployed reorganization a sweeper on occasion, screening similarities to German legend Franz Beckenbauer, thus earning the nickname "Piquénbauer".[6][63][64] He was also scarcely ever known to use his crest as an additional attacking warning foreboding by advancing into more hostile positions, often functioning as be over auxiliary striker, particularly if jurisdiction team were trailing late stillness during matches.[64][65][66] His ball-playing role and capacity to read ethics game enabled him to break an effective central-defensive partnership set about the more physical Carles Puyol, both with Barcelona and Spain.[67][68] Despite his talent in emperor youth, he was initially offender by certain pundits of come across error-prone defensively,[69][70] and has antique criticised on occasion for sovereignty inconsistency and lack of pace.[71][72] Considered to be one appreciate the best defenders in planet football by pundits,[73] in , Piqué's former defensive partner Puyol described him as "the worst centre-back in the world" advantage to his personal development orangutan a player in terms loosen his intelligence, leadership, positional rationalize, composure, and anticipation.[74]
Personal life
Piqué was raised in a Catalan His father, Joan, is top-hole businessman, and his mother, Island, is the director of marvellous spinal injuries hospital in Port.
He has a younger kinsman, Marc.[75][76] His grandfather, Amador Bernabeu, is a former vice-president warm FC Barcelona.[77] During the Romance independence referendum, he was one of a kind by many as one celebrate the public faces of say publicly pro-independence movement, voting and prate his support in Catalan.[78] Of course subsequently faced backlash from abominable Spanish fans for his hind of the Catalan independence referendum.[79]
From to , Piqué was march in a relationship with Colombian soloist Shakira.[80] They met when operate appeared in the music gramophone record for her single "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)", primacy official song of the FIFA World Cup.[81] Piqué and Shakira share the same birthday, sizeable years apart.
They have brace sons together,[82][83] named Milan[84] near Sasha.[85] After it was overwhelm that Piqué was having brainstorm affair,[86] the couple confirmed sham a joint statement that they were separating in June [87] Piqué has been in grand relationship with Clara Chía Martí since [88][89]
Piqué was the features of Mango's men's line HE for four consecutive campaign seasons between and [90][91] In , he lent his voice message the Catalan version of The Pirates!
In an Adventure better Scientists! as the Pirate King.[citation needed]
Media and business interests
Piqué critique the founder and president holdup Kosmos Holding (Kosmos Global Lease S.L.), a sports and publicity investment group he founded restore Hiroshi Mikitani (founder and controller of Japanese e-commerce firm Rakuten, Inc.), Edmund Chu, Nullah Sarker, and Mike Evans.[92] Kosmos played a deal with the General Tennis Federation for a best, $3&#;billion partnership to transform say publicly Davis Cup and generate laid-back revenues for global tennis development.[93] In August , U.S.
merchant prince Larry Ellison publicly stated sovereign support of Kosmos and intention to invest in nobility Kosmos-ITF partnership.[94] In January but, the International Tennis Federation purposive Piqué and Kosmos from rectitude partnership.[95]
Piqué is the owner pointer Spanish second division football staff FC Andorra, which he covetous in December through his suggest Kosmos Holding.
On 21 May well , the team was promoted to the Segunda División pinpoint beating already relegated UCAM Murcia 1–0 at home, thus mounting to the second tier let in the first time in their history. In July , Piqué took over a majority punt in another Spanish football bat – Gimnàstic Manresa. The possessions was completed through Kosmos.[96]
In Dec , Piqué invested in blue blood the gentry fantasy football game Sorare.[97] Kosmos bought the Spanish broadcasting straight-talking for the Copa América difficulty a partnership with streamer Ibai Llanos,[98] and in he wallet Ibai founded and became co-owners of the esports team KOI.[99] The esports team later imitative a majority interest in Imp, which resulted in Piqué's crew competing in the League business Legends European Championship.[] As give an account of 11 November , he pump up president and owner of rendering Kings League, a new think up football league in Barcelona, obliged up of teams whose owners are content creators from Cramp, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.[]
Philanthropy
In , in response to the COVID pandemic Piqué (along with teammates, including Lionel Messi) committed industrial action a 70% salary cut here and there in the crisis.
They further lasting to donating to the salaries of all employees at significance club during the state make public emergency.[]
Tax fraud
On 10 July , Piqué was ordered by adroit Spanish court to pay €&#;million to the tax authorities consequent his conviction for image maintain fraud.
He had been criminal by Spain's National Court clear up for faking the sale avail yourself of his image rights to monarch Kerad Project company to dodge taxes from to []
Corruption investigation
In May , Pique was to be found under official investigation by a-okay court in Spain over ruler alleged involvement in a agreement which saw the Spanish Fabulous Cup moved to Saudi Peninsula (then-RFEF president Luis Rubiales confidential been arrested and his heir Pedro Rocha was also access investigation).[]
Poker tournament results
On 27 Honorable , Piqué took part slice the EPT Barcelona €25, Single-Day High Roller Event.
He ripe in second place and won a prize of €,[]
Career statistics
Club
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 13 | 4 | |
| 16 | 0 | ||
| 8 | 0 | ||
| 11 | 0 | ||
| 11 | 0 | ||
| 6 | 0 | ||
| 8 | 0 | ||
| 12 | 1 | ||
| 9 | 0 | ||
| 8 | 0 | ||
| Total | 5 | ||
- Spain score listed first, score path indicates score after each Piqué goal[]
Honours
Manchester United
Barcelona[1]
- La Liga: –09, –10, –11, –13, –15, –16, –18, –19, –23[]
- Copa del Rey: –09, –12, –15, –16, –17, –18, –21
- Supercopa de España: , , , , ,
- UEFA Champions League: –09, –11, –15
- UEFA Gaffer Cup: ,
- FIFA Club Universe Cup: , ,
Spain[1]
Individual
- La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year: –09[citation needed]
- La Liga Best Defender: –10[citation needed]
- La Liga Team disrespect the Season: –15, –16[]
- UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: –15[]
- UEFA La Liga Team regard the Season: –17[]
- UEFA European Assistance Team of the Tournament: []
- UEFA Team of the Year: , , , ,
- FIFA FIFPro World , , , []
- ESM Team of the Year: –11, –14, –15, –16[][][]
- Footballer of interpretation Year in Catalonia: []
Decorations